TULSA – Jim McGovern closed out his ninth U.S. Open yesterday with a 6-over 76 to finish at 17-over for the championship. Instead of feeling tattered from the grueling nature of the tournament and despondent over his 13-over-par weekend after making his third Open cut, McGovern sat in the Southern Hills locker room and looked refreshed.

The Oradell, N.J., native had just gotten the news from his wife back home in New Jersey that he’s gotten an exemption into this week’s Buick Classic at the Westchester Country Club.

“I’m ecstatic,” McGovern said of both his invite to Buick and his week at the Open. “Any time you get into a major and make the cut it’s a great thing. This is a tough course; it beat you up from start to finish, and it’s not even that long.

“I think it’s the toughest Open course I’ve played. I’m glad I don’t have to play it again for another 10 years.”

McGovern, who plays mostly on the Buy.com Tour, was accompanied all week by his father, Howard, and his brother, Michael, both of whom followed him through every practice round and the tournament.

His wife is due with their fourth child in four weeks (they already have three daughters).

“I’m going to try to play until she says to stop,” McGovern said. “I’ll probably play until July and then I’m hers.”

Despite his high score, McGovern called his week “nothing but great.”

“From the experience of getting into it, to getting here and feeling how big this thing is, it’s so much fun,” McGovern said. “When I was driving in [yesterday] morning I saw people already sitting in the 16th bleachers already. Everything about this week was great.”

Everything except a better performance here that McGovern let get away in his Saturday round (77). It came the day after McGovern had to play 33 holes Friday because of the Thursday weather delays.

“I wasn’t as sharp [Saturday],” McGovern said. “I think I was mentally fatigued. I just didn’t see the shots. I have no complaints, though.”